Oak Lawn police have arrested a Burbank man accused of trying to lure two teens to his car on Feb. 22.
OAK LAWN, IL — A self-employed sales vendor from Burbank has been arrested after police said he tried to lure two Oak Lawn girls to his car last Friday. Safwat Mohammad, 43, appeared before Cook County Judge John J. Mahoney on a felony count of child abduction and child luring, as well as misdemeanor disorderly conduct. During Mohammad’s bond hearing on Tuesday, he was also served with an order of protection for an unrelated civil matter.
Police said that a man later identified as Mohammad approached two girls, ages 14 and 15, moments apart as they walked home after school on Feb. 22. Both teens were students at Oak Lawn Community High School. There was no physical contact and, in both instances, adults happened upon the scene and scared the man away.
Around 3:40 p.m., the 14-year-old was walking home in the 5300 block of West 91st Place, when she noticed a man following her down the street in a Cadillac Deville. When the teen turned the corner, the car also turned and continued to follow the girl. The prosecutor said Mohammad pulled alongside the teen and rolled down his window. Mohammad allegedly began speaking to the girl — asking her name, saying she was pretty and that he wanted to get to know her better.
Man Sought In Two Attempted Child Luring Incidents In Oak Lawn
A woman on her way to pick up her son noticed the Caddy following the girl. Sensing something was not right, the prosecutor said the woman pulled up next to the teen and asked her if she was okay. When the girl responded that she was not the woman told Mohammad to leave, the prosecutor said. After making sure Mohammad left the area and that the teen was okay, she went to pick up her son. The girl met up with a friend, and they walked the rest of the way home.
Moments earlier, police said Mohammad approached a 15-year-old girl who was walking in the 9500 block of S. Marion Ave. and used the same modus operandi. When the teen turned up her driveway, police said the girl’s mother came out and Mohammad fled the area.
Using surveillance video from neighborhood home security cameras, police were able to enlarge one of the images to get a license plate number. The plate number came back as being registered to Mohammad, police said. Officers arrested Mohammad on Sunday at his home, according to the charges. He has no prior criminal background.
The 14-year-old was able to identify Mohammad, and he was charged with felony child abduction and child luring, police said. The other teen was unable to identify Mohammad as the man who approached her, so he was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
The assistant public defender told the judge that Mohammad is a self-employed sales vendor. He lives with his girlfriend in Burbank. He said he could post $100 bond. During the bond hearing, authorities also learned that another woman had filed for a civil order of protection against Mohammad, but it had not yet been served. The judge set bail at $250,000.
“I find you to be a danger,” Mahoney said.
Mohammad later returned to the courtroom where he was served with the order of protection issued Feb.19 from a Chicago woman. He was told to refrain from physical abuse, stalking, intimidation and communicating by phone, email or text; and he was asked to cease from online exploitation. He is also to stay away from the woman’s home and workplace.
Mohammad’s next court date is March 25 in Bridgeview. As Mohammed was being led out of the courtroom, he turned around and mouthed to a man and woman sitting in the gallery, “get my bond.”